The Skidmore
SAR Race #6 5 1/2f Turf Stake
Purse $150.000 (plus up to $22.50 for NY-breds) For Two Year Olds.

1 Tragic Okm Stables Castellano J J 119 —

It is hard to say a $7.000 maiden claimer winner has a chance of winning a stakes race next time out but at HRP it is sometimes difficult to weigh up potential against actual form, so we have to look closely at every horse in these juvenile races. Two fair runs on dirt resulted in a couple of third placings at lower level so the breeder turned to the turf and a maiden claimer last time to try and get the win. Meeting a full field at FE, which has been fairly competitive as a meet, he showed bags of speed and won by an easy two lengths. His work times are comparable to a big ticket DMR maiden winner that runs in this race so clearly the ability is there. The trouble with HRP though is there are hidden traits, and we only really find them when we physically run them, desire, class and development can only be ascertained through experimentation and today we see this one going through that process. The new owner will be hoping he has all of them and today we all find out together.

2 Mazula Lucky Rock Creek Davis D 119 —

Won his maiden on the dirt well enough at FE but failed when stepped up to allowance level at CD and that may be the clue that tells us where he stands in this race. His turf works are pretty comparable with his dirt works so I don’t see any huge improvement to come on this surface so he may be up against it here. Having said that, he slots into the perfect gate and has a jockey that is riding in great form so maybe that is worth the length or two he needs to find.

3 Sitting Bulls Envy El Primero Rodeo Prat F 119 —

We all know that the surface doesn’t create huge differences in performance with most horses so the fact that this one ran well and won on dirt means very little. He has shown plenty of pace in both his runs and going on his works can clearly carry on that form and improvement on this different surface. The key here will be where he ends up from the start from this gate, a gentle stalk like his last effort will certainly give him advantages at the end of the race and he has the gate to do that.

4 Sink Arindel Gaffalione T 119 —

Won his debut at PRX but then faced the long break between races because of the race calendar and looked in need of the race when weakening late in an allowance on the same track. His turf works are comparable to his dirt works so I suspect there will be no drop off in his ability on the grass so he must be considered competitive here. The trainer gelded him in July and has seen some improvement so that may be a key decision if he wins today.

5 Tequila Joe Nakamura Stables Geroux F 119 —

One of the four that have run and won on turf, but I don’t think that means too much other than we know he won’t be in the 10% that are stuck on one surface. He just got up in an SAR maiden over this trip giving us the info that he certainly has the heart gene and isn’t far away proving his class gene, so they are both big plus’s. His works are in the clone zone and the trainer knows how to win at this level so he must be considered a winning chance.

6 Dickens Arindel Lezcano J 119 —

The second stable runner, this one also won a maiden at SAR over this trip but in contrast to some of the others that was an improvement on his two efforts on dirt so he may be one of those few that is a one surface pony. Difficult to weigh up so we will know more about him after this race, but he certainly has some ticks in boxes making him a contender in this race.

7 English Farley Arkansas Elite Saez L 119 —

If I had to pick one on form and works, it would be this one. He was one of the juveniles that took advantage of the HRP second start glitch by winning a big-ticket maiden back in April and then had to wait months before getting a third start. That run was in the Bashford Manor where he showed plenty of speed to make the running but eventually got out finished into second. The fact that he would’ve needed that run and has since worked a sub 1.10 work on turf suggest to me that he has all the attributes needed to win this race. Of course, he has to overcome gate seven of nine first so there is that.

8 Classy City Asgar Franco M 119 —

Won his maiden at DMR and looks like one of those that is destined for good things. At only 15.1hh there would seem to be plenty of growing for him to do but we have seen a few smaller juveniles win at this level, so it seems that isn’t a thing here at HRP. The downside is that this is the first wide gate he has faced so far so we won’t know how he reacts to that, but he has been both a closer and an on-pace type so clearly, he can adapt. Another who is looking to reveal some hidden traits.

9 Southern Oak Jive Inc. Velazquez J R 119 —

The car park goes to the only stakes winner in the field so like a handicap he has been given something to overcome thanks to his success. That win came way back in April when he used the second start glitch against debutantes but he proved that was no fluke with a big effort in the Bashford Manor last time out. He was about a length behind English Farley that day and with the draws as they are he may find it difficult to reverse that form but certainly has a chance even with the wider draw. Why? well early speed may be a key factor and he will get the wide gate speed push if he wants to use it so that may put him in with a chance.

SUMMARY

For me this looks a clear-cut decision with English Farley the winner but form is hard to read these days especially at juvenile level so I wouldn’t be betting my house on it.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded